Firefighters tackled two blazes at a derelict pub in five days.

The Short Blue in Bastable Avenue, Barking, was on fire in the early hours today and on Sunday afternoon.

The London Fire Brigade said the Sunday fire wrecked part of the first floor but today’s blaze caused “hardly any damage”.

The ground floor of the boarded-up pub was also damaged by fire in March.

Around 10 firemen dealt with the small fire at around 2am today. About 10 firefighters were called to the Sunday blaze after 3.10pm and it was brought under control at around 3.35pm. The fires are under investigation.

The Short Blue closed down around two years ago but plans have been put forward to turn the site into a block of flats.